Harford Land Trust Event Raises $50,000 for Land Preservation in Harford County

The Harford Land Trust raised a record $50,000 at its seventh annual Harvest Moon Dinner & Auction on Saturday, October 20. An enthusiastic crowd of 200 people attended the event at the Bel Air Armory in support of the nonprofit’s mission of preserving land in Harford County.

Keynote speaker Major General Randy S. Taylor, Senior Commander of Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), spoke of the important partnership with Harford Land Trust through the Army Compatible Use Buffer Program. General Taylor described the benefits of preserving critical habitat and limiting incompatible development near APG.

Highlighting the evening was the announcement by Executive Director Kristin Kirkwood of the land trust’s recent acquisition of a long-sought property known as Perryman Woods, funded primarily through the Army’s program, as well as through Harford County Government stormwater mitigation funds, and community contributions.

Mary Archer Stewart of Fawn View Farm in Pylesville also spoke at the event. Stewart stressed the importance of land preservation to the county’s agricultural industry and to future generations of county residents, whether they are involved in farming or not.

Major sponsors and contributors included the Office of Harford County Executive Barry Glassman, Klein’s ShopRite, Ann and Art Helton of Millbrook Farm, Eileen and Harry Webster of Lassen, Marine & Webster, Inc., and Jesse Colvin for Congress. The event was made possible by the donated goods and services of over 100 local businesses and residents. Aimee O’Neill of O’Neill Enterprises donated her auctioneering services, and Jeff Conti donated his professional decorating services.

“The outpouring of support for our event shows that our community recognizes the importance of our work and understands the many benefits of land preservation,” Harford Land Trust Board President Ben Lloyd said. “Thank you to our event committee chair and board member Jo Tyson, as well as Marilyn Thompson, Cyndi Fitzhugh, Diane Jones, Jeff Conti, Lee Crush, Patti Dallam, Gloria Moon, and Peg Niland for their work behind the scenes to make this a success.”

The Harford Land Trust was founded in 1991 by a group of local residents who wanted to ensure that land with significant historic or ecological value remained intact. The nonprofit’s mission is to work with landowners to conserve land and protect its natural resources, scenic beauty, rural character, and promote a healthy quality of life in Harford County. Since its inception, the HLT and partners have helped protect more than 11,000 acres throughout the county including Kilgore Falls, Eden Mill, and Anita C. Leight Estuary Center.

For more information visit www.harfordlandtrust.org.

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Preserving Harford County’s land is of great importance. Fallston and Joppa need some of that same love shown towards our areas, asap! It is systematically being destroyed by errant meaningless development. The only hope I have for some semblance of construction sanity lies with two grand women mentioned above. Thank you Gloria and Patti, for your efforts and time. Unfortunately, I fear the natural beauty of Fallston and Joppa, the reason our family moved here many years ago, is gone.

I have lived in Fallston all my 72 years. The rural element began eroding when Rt152 was relocated and built between 1955 and 57. It cut some farms in half, others lost several acres of their farm land along the perimeter. Many of the farmers were up in years. Their children did not want to farm (it was hard work) or they had no children. Therefore, they sold. This was their 401K plan.

This began the era of developing into building lots.

The idea of the building rights sounds good but what happens when their heirs or the heirs heirs decide farming is not the route they want to go?

Thank you for sharing a bit of Fallston history. Your comment is really the fact(s) of the matter. Whoever owns the land, in theory, has the right to do with it as they please. But, development must be within the zoning guidelines and county ordinances. The latest zoning changes and development envelope additions detract from the beauty, functionality, and desireability of Fallston. That saddens me. Ultimately, unless the landowners are interested in preservation of the natural state of the land, then the rest of us are at the mercy of those that hold the titles. Plus, some of the land owners may provide large political donations to those elected folks that make the decisions about changing rural land into suburban areas, leading to urban playgrounds.